HBG: Poll of the year 2024

The results of our traditional end of year poll were unveiled at our annual seasonal celebration, this year at Dosa Kingdom on Boundary Road, Portslade on Thursday 5th December 2024

Favourite read

1. The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) by Hanif Kureishi  (Nigel)

2. Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo (Roland)
3. Pop. 1280 (1964) by Jim Thompson (Nigel)

Super-Infinite - The Transformations of John Donne (2022) by Katherine Rundell (Nick)

The Vegetarian (2007) by Han Kang (Tristan)

Time Shelter (2020) by Georgi Gospodinov (Hamish) 

A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry (Robin)

Madame Bovary (1857) by Gustave Flaubert (Roland)

A Winter Book - Selected Stories (2006) by Tove Jansson (Robin) 

Lullaby (2002) by Chuck Palahniuk (Keith)

Favourite music

1. Spellbound: The Collection (2015) by Siouxsie & the Banshees (Keith)

2. Asylum Years (1986) by Tom Waits (Nigel)

3. Hard Steppin' (2009) by Ikebe Shakedown (Roland)

Tavener Metaphysical: a short introduction to John Tavener playlist (Nick)

Jackie The Album compilation (2007) by Various Artists (Nigel)

Wary + Strange (2021) by Amythyst Kiah (Roland)

Robin’s Irish Rebellion playlist (Robin)

The British Stereo Collective - Iniquitous (2024) (Hamish)

Transphormer (2004) by Alter Ego (Tristan) 

Ágætis byrjun (1999) by Sigur Rós (Robin)

Favourite watch

1. Clockwork Orange (1971) directed by Stanley Kubrick (Nigel)
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) dir by Michel Gondry (Hamish)
3. Oppenheimer (2023) directed by Christopher Nolan (Nick)

The Babadook (2014) dir by Jennifer Kent (Keith)
Double Indemnity (1944) dir by Howard Hawk (Nigel) Mr Loverman (BBC adaptation) (Roland)

The Skin I Live In (2011) directed by Pedro Almodovar (Tristan)

The Thing (1982) directed by John Carpenter (Robin) 

Leaving (2009) directed by Catherine Corsini (Roland)
The Wind That Shakes The Barley dir by Ken Loach (Robin)

Favourite theme

1. Let’s Get (Meta)physical (Nick)
2. Spellbound (Keith) 

3. England in the Seventies (Nigel)

Noir (Nigel)

Infidelity (Roland)

Ireland (Robin) 

Metamorphosis (aka disturbing things made by those pesky foreigners) (Tristan)

Passing (Roland)

Somewhat Chilly (Robin)

Best book you read in 2024 (could be a Book Group choice or something else)?

NB: Street-Level Superstar: A Year With Lawrence by Will Hodgkinson

NS: Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan

RF: Mr Loverman

KH: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

TR: The Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
RM: Girl, Women, Other by Bernadine Evaristo '

HW: Revolutionary Spirit by Paul Simpson

Memorable 2024 HBG moments

NB: The cycle ride is all I can think of, certainly nothing to rival Roland’s neighbour in 2023. Thoroughly enjoyable year though with some great choices. 

NS: Always the ride to the top of the big hill

RF: Roland’s cosy home

RM: Nigel's conversion to Jazz, funk and soul

Best thing about Book Group in 2024

NB: The continuity and each and every one of you

NS: A good standard, good contributions, always done in good time

RF: We’re growing old together but still feeling young

TR: Continuing impeccable organisation

RM: The imminent death of key word playlists. High quality selections.

HW: The fun, the camaraderie and having the diary dates in place for 2029

What defined 2024 for you (news item, something personal etc.)?

NB: No alcohol for the first time since I was 14, dancing regularly, and the end of 13 years of Tory misrule 

NS: Probably end up being Trump. Hang on, I quit my job!

RF: Well there’s a thing!

TR: Eben being in Thailand all year. Living vicariously

RM: Embracing older age

How do we make Book Group even better?

NB: Maintain the high standards of 2024 coz we surely can’t raise the bar any higher 

NS: We were meant to do a walk

RF: No improvements necessary 

TR: For end of year poll, go back to a Google form or email cos WhatsApp is useless

RM: Impossible. Stick to the formula that already works and has kept it going for nearly 20 years.

What else do you want to say?

NB: Don’t go changing 

NS: That is all

RF: Thank you Nigel you’re bloody gorgeous

KH: HBG - you guys! Keep up the good work

TR: I thought the book choices this year were all of a very high standard. Wish I could say the same about the music (looking at you, Jackie)

RM: It is a privilege to be part of such a stimulating and thoughtful group. Thanks to all

NB:

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR - Jamie XX, The Cure, The The

SONG OF THE YEAR - Zero T - The Technique

GIGS OF THE YEAR - Ezra Collective / Kneecap / Olivia Dean at Love Supreme

CULTURAL HAPPENINGS OF THE YEAR (best of the rest - books, TV, films, festivals etc) - Love Supreme Festival 2024

RF:

SONGS OF THE YEAR

How long by sugar daddy  (just heard it on Huey Morgan)
GIGS OF THE YEAR (Taylor swift, saw doctors, Billy Bragg at resident) 

TR: 

Bob Vylan at Rockaway

Idles at Glastonbury

Kneecap at Mutations

Black Octopus (club night)

Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

Roland’s choices

Theme: Passing

READ: Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

LISTEN: Wary + Strange (2021) by Amythyst Kiah

WATCH: Mr Loverman (BBC iPlayer)

*

READ: Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

We all loved Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. Roland has really upped his game

Barry is a brilliant creation both loveable and infuriating. Barry is an autodidact, polymath, drinker, and a successful business person, who holds some traditional and unreconstructed views, but who has also garnered plenty of wisdom. From the off we learn that although he has been married for over 50 years and has two adult daughters, he is gay and his one and only real love is his best friend Morris. They grew up together and their relationship has been going on since their early years in Antigua.

Mr Loverman explores what happens after Morris challenges him to be honest with his wife and family and ask for a divorce.

This novel has got the lot: humour, wit, pathos, drama, and surprises. All the characters are wholly credible and multidimensional, and each offers new and surprising perspectives. It’s also a page turner.

Highly recommended

Nick 9 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 9 / Keith 8 / Roland 8 / Robin 9 / Hamish 9.5

LISTEN: Wary + Strange (2021) by Amythyst Kiah

A divisive choice

Roland loves the Blues Rock and this musical adventure washed him up on the shores of Wary + Strange. Roland, Nigel, Nick and Hamish all gave it a thumbs up. Keith quite liked it. Robin and Tristan lambasted it. 

WATCH: Mr Loverman (BBC iPlayer)

One of us loved it (Hamish). Some liked it (Roland, Robin and, to an extent, Keith). Some couldn’t really be bothered having read the book and enjoyed that so much (Nick, Nigel). And Tristan thought it was incredibly stupid to choose an adaptation of a book we’d just read, effing and jeffing all the while. Take that Roland.

 

HBG endorse it: 11 October 2024 - 14 November 2024

The Apprentice (Film)

The Substance (Film)

Joep Beving live at TOM

Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway (Book)

Lives of Lee Miller by Anthony Penrose (Book)

Shattered by Hanif Kureshi (BBC Sounds)

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino (Book/Audiobook)

The Mirror & The Light (BBC)

A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry

Robin’s choices

Theme: Ireland

READ: A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry 

On Thursday 10th October 2024 @ 7:45 pm we met at our old stamping ground, the Poets, to discuss Robin's Ireland themed choices

A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry is a heartbreaking and depressing novel about the futility of war. In this instance made doubly futile as young Willie Dunne, who is Irish, is fighting for the British in WW1 as Ireland fights for its own independence. 

It's a powerful read, full of memorable scenes, and yet many of us remained somewhat detached throughout and were never wholly convinced by it.

Roland, our resident maverick, was far more fulsome in his praise and lauded an intensely poignant and beautifully written novel that delves into the complexities of identity, loyalty, and the human cost of war.

That said, we all found plenty to enjoy in our second foray into Sebastian Barry’s work.

Nick 6.5 / Tristan 7.5 / Nigel 6 / Keith 7 / Roland 9 / Robin 8 / Hamish 6.5

LISTEN: Robin’s Irish Rebellion playlist

Playlists are bullshit as HBG know more than most however most of us found something to enjoy, indeed some found plenty to enjoy.

Roland, our resident maverick, was deeply unimpressed and lambasted the “plinky plinky music” of the Emerald Isle. Oooof. Take that Eire.

Nick - / Tristan - / Nigel 7 / Keith - / Roland - / Robin 10 / Hamish -

WATCH: The Wind That Shakes The Barley dir by Ken Loach 

Roland was unsatisfied. The rest of us were more favourably disposed towards this powerful film that was a surprise hit in Ireland. A surprise given Ken Loach’s status as a niche director.

Bleak and uncompromising it may be, however it also features gorgeous cinematography, is tightly paced, and includes a fine performance from Cillian Murphy.

Nick - / Tristan 7 / Nigel 8 / Keith - / Roland 5 / Robin 7 / Hamish -

HBG endorse it: 26th July 2024 - 5 September 2024

Lee (Film)

Marc Almond live

The Outrun (Film)

LPO @ The Dome live

Boat Story (BBC iPlayer)

Northern Soul (BBC iPlayer)

Nilufer Yanya (Musical artist)

A Very Royal Scandal (Prime)

Bowie in Berlin (BBC Sounds)

The Zelensky Story (BBC iPlayer)

The French Connection (BBC iPlayer)

The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) by Hanif Kureishi

 Nigel’s choices

Theme: England in the Seventies

READ: The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) by Hanif Kureishi 

On Thursday 5th September 2024 @ 7:45 pm we met at the Stirling Arms to discuss Nigel’s England In The Seventies themed choices

In July,  whilst discussing Time Shelter (2020) by Georgi Gospodino, Nigel mentioned he would go back to live in the 1970s and so it was HBG was invited to retreat back into the uncomplicated world of the 1970s

We all enjoyed The Buddha of Suburbia, indeed most of us absolutely loved it. Roland shocked the group by exclaiming that he “hasn’t enjoyed an HBG book in a long time” but enjoyed this one immensely.

The only slight note of dissension was from Hamish who was less convinced by the portrait of a mixed race teenager as he would have experienced even more racism than was depicted.

Through the protagonist, Karim Amir, Hanif Kureishi delves into the complexities of identity, race, and class in 1970s Britain. Karim's voice is candid and full of life, capturing the confusion and excitement of being a teenager trying to navigate two worlds: the traditional South Asian culture of his family and the freer, more chaotic British society.

We were hooked by the humour and sharp observations. Karim’s narration is engaging, his wit blending with an undercurrent of frustration. He’s a mixed-race kid in the suburbs, neither fully accepted by the white English nor fully comfortable in the Indian identity his father embraces. The way Kureishi handles this duality resonated deeply with us. We laughed at the absurdity of Karim's situations, but there were also times when we felt the weight of his alienation.

The novel doesn't shy away from depicting the messiness of life. Karim’s journey is full of contradictions—his desire for both acceptance and rebellion, his yearning for adventure, and his uncertainty about who he really is. Through his relationships, whether with his father Haroon (the self-proclaimed "Buddha of Suburbia") or his friends and lovers, Karim's world is laid bare. The shifting dynamics and the often awkward, sometimes painful interactions paint a vivid picture of the cultural and personal upheavals of the time.

Kureishi uses Karim's story to explore broader themes of displacement and belonging. The novel's backdrop, the post-colonial Britain of the 70s, with its simmering racial tensions and social changes, adds depth to Karim's internal struggles.

Kureishi's writing is sharp and unflinching. His ability to blend humour with poignant social commentary is one of the novel's greatest strengths. There’s an energy to his prose that kept us turning the pages, even during the slower parts of the narrative.

Kureishi’s exploration of identity, race, and social change through Karim's eyes is both entertaining and insightful. For anyone interested in a nuanced portrayal of 1970s Britain, infused with humour and heart, this book is a must-read.

Nick 9.75 / Tristan 9 / Nigel 9 / Keith 9 / Roland 10 / Robin 8 / Hamish 7

LISTEN: Jackie The Album compilation (2007) by Various Artists

Tristan described this as a bag of shite, Nick thought it was lazy, however the rest of us found plenty to enjoy. Roland was pleasantly surprised, Robin thought it was good fun, Hamish loved it, and Nigel revelled in it.

Nick - / Tristan 0 / Nigel 10 / Keith 9 / Roland 8 / Robin 5.5 / Hamish 8

WATCH: Clockwork Orange (1971) directed by Stanley Kubrick

The film, directed by Stanley Kubrick, takes you on a disturbing journey through the mind of Alex DeLarge, a young man who revels in violence and mayhem. What struck us most was the stark contrast between the grotesque acts of violence and the strangely beautiful, almost surreal, visual style that Kubrick employs. The juxtaposition of the classical music score, particularly Beethoven, with the brutality on screen, left us feeling a mix of revulsion and fascination.

Kubrick’s use of wide-angle shots and vivid, almost theatrical sets made the film feel like a twisted art piece, one that you can’t quite look away from even when you want to. The performances, especially Malcolm McDowell as Alex, are haunting. McDowell brings a sinister charm to Alex that makes him compelling, despite his despicable actions. This duality—where you’re repulsed by his actions but still drawn to his character—is something that lingers long after the credits roll.

The themes of free will, control, and the nature of evil are presented in a way that challenges you to think about society and the individual’s place within it. Watching *A Clockwork Orange* is like staring into the abyss and having it stare back at you

Nick 6 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 10 / Keith 8 / Roland 8 / Robin 6 / Hamish 7

HBG endorse it: 26th July 2024 - 5 September 2024

No Fit State Circus 

Dawn Penn (live music)

Arrested Development (live music) Taylor Swift (live music)

Damnation (Hungarian film)

Eric (Netflix)

Colin From Accounts 2nd series (BBC)

Brian and Charles (Netflix)

Kneecap film (Cinemas)

Age Against The Machine daytime club (Various venues)

Riders of Justice (Film - Channel 4)